The primary difference between hard money loans and traditional loans is that hard money loans are asset-based, meaning the loan is secured by the property you’re using as collateral, not your personal credit score or financial history.
If you default on the loan, the lender has the right to foreclose on the property to recoup their funds.
Hard money lenders are typically private individuals or companies, not banks. They could be real estate investors, investment firms, or private lenders who specialize in providing loans backed by real estate.
These lenders tend to focus less on your financial background and more on the value of the property you’re borrowing against.
Loan-to-value ratio is a key factor in determining how much you can borrow.
Hard money lenders usually offer loans that cover 60% to 80% of the property’s value, depending on the lender’s policies and the risk involved.
For example, if a property is valued at $200,000, and the lender agrees to a 70% LTV ratio, you could borrow up to $140,000.